Articulated headset

ABSTRACT

A communication headset is provided which includes two curved housings that rotate with respect to one another to allow the headset to be held firmly in place over one ear of the user. One housing supports a microphone boom which has a free end positionable adjacent to the users mouth and the other houses a receiver element for producing sound from electrical signals. Feedback between the receiver and the microphone is reduced by an elastomer friction hinge between the two housings. The receiver element is encapsulated by elastomer to further reduce feedback and to protect the receiver element from physical shock.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/429,034, filed on Apr.26, 1995 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,122, which is a Continuation of Ser.No. 08/255,232 filed on Jun. 7, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,769, whichis a File Wraper Continuation of Ser. No. 08/103,344 filed on Aug. 6,1993, now abandoned, which is a Continuation of Ser. No. 07/925,317filed on Aug. 4, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,997, which is aContinuation of Ser. No. 07/785,531 filed on Oct. 31, 1991, nowabandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to communication headsets, particularly tosmall, lightweight headsets that are supported by one ear of the user,and contain a microphone for transmitting the user's voice, and areceiver for transmitting audio signals into the users ear.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

As communication headsets continue to evolve over the years, the trendis towards miniaturization while increasing performance, comfort, andease of use. There are many headset manufacturers who have succeeded inproducing small, lightweight headsets. However, problems encountered inminiaturizing headsets include providing adequate stability on the usershead, and reducing feedback or crosstalk between the microphone and thereceiver channels. These issues have been addressed by much of the priorart, but have by no means been eliminated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a lightweight headset that can be worn behindeither ear. It reduces feedback and increases stability on the ear byutilizing an articulated arrangement.

A microphone element and a receiver element are each supported by aseparate housing. The two housings are connected to one another througha soft, flexible, friction hinge which serves to dampen vibrations andthereby acoustically separate the two elements.

The friction hinge also serves to adjust the headset to different earsizes. The two housings pivot with respect to one another through thefriction hinge and are adjusted to fit around the back of the ear. Thefriction hinge holds the two halves of the headset comfortably inposition, thereby providing increased stability of the headset.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide additionalacoustical isolation and physical shock protection for the receiverelement by enclosing it within the soft material of the friction hinge.This arrangement provides higher performance as well as a more durableheadset.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the headset as it is worn on the user's ear.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the exterior of the headset.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, cutaway, side view of the headset.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIG. 1, the headset 8 of the present invention is worn bythe user 4 over one ear 6. Referring to FIG. 2, the headset comprises areceiver housing 12 which is pivotally connected to a main housing 10.The main housing 10 includes a contoured surface 26 that comfortablyrests on top of the ear and a lobe 30 that helps to position the headset8 on the ear. The receiver housing 12 also includes an arcuate surface28 that contacts the lower-back portion of the ear when the receiverhousing 12 is adjusted relative to the main housing 10.

A generally L-shaped microphone boom 16 is rotatively attached to themain housing 10 and is adjustable so that its free end can be positionedin front of the user's mouth, regardless of which ear the headset 8 isworn on. A microphone 22 can be located at the free end of the boom 16.In an alternate embodiment, the microphone could instead be locatedinside the main housing, and in communication with a hollow microphoneboom which picks up the user's voice and transmits the audible soundwaves up to the microphone.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an elastomer member 14 contains a bore 34through one end which pivotally accepts a pin 32 of the main housing 10.The axis of pin 32 is substantially parallel to the auditory canal ofthe user's ear. Exterior wall openings 48 and 50 on the main housing 10provide rotational stops for the elastomer element 14.

The opposite end of the elastomer member 14 includes a raised rib 38around its circumference which engages a mating recess in the receiverhousing 12 as the elastomer member 14 is partially received in bore 36of the receiver housing 12, thereby securing the receiver housing 12 andthe elastomer member 14 together.

A receiver element 24 for converting electrical signals into sound wavesis encapsulated in the elastomer element 14 to acoustically isolate thereceiver element 24 and protect it from physical shock. A passagethrough the end of the elastomer element 14 and through the bottom ofthe receiver housing 12 allows receiver element 24 to communicate with atube fitting 54 at the bottom end of receiver housing 12. One end of aflexible hollow tube 18 is connected to the tube fitting 54 while thetube's other end is fitted with a hollow earplug 52. When the earplug 52is inserted into the auditory canal of the user's ear, sound wavesemanating from the receiver element 24 travel through the tube 18 intothe users ear.

An interconnector 40 is located in the main housing 10 and connects apair of wires 42 coming from the microphone 22 and a pair of wires 44coming from the receiver element 24 to wires 46 of headset cable 20.Headset cable 20 connects the headset 8 to external communicationequipment such as a telephone.

In the preferred embodiment, the main housing 10 and the receiverhousing 12 are made of ABS and the elastomer element 14 is made of 80Durometer Kraton® (a proprietary thermoplastic rubber from ShellChemicals). To reduce weight, much of the housings are hollow space, asshown in FIG. 3.

In use, the main housing 10 of the present invention is placed over oneear and the receiver housing 12 is adjusted against the lower-backportion of the ear. The microphone 22 can then be positioned ifnecessary in front of the user's mouth and the headset cable 20 can beconnected to the communication equipment.

The elastomer member 14 allows the articulated adjustment which providesstability for the headset on the user's ear, and acoustical separationbetween the microphone and receiver elements. The elastomer element alsoprovides a soft housing for further reducing feedback and for protectingthe receiver element from shock.

The terms and expressions which have been employed here are used asterms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention,in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding equivalents ofthe features shown and described, or portions thereof, it beingrecognized that various modifications are possible within the scope ofthe invention claimed.

What is claimed is:
 1. An articulated headset support, to be worn on anear, comprising:a main housing having a bottom surface that rests on topof the ear and extends to the back of the ear behind the pinna; asecondary housing having a side surface that adjustably contacts thelower-back portion of the ear behind the pinna; and friction hinge meansfor pivotally connecting said main housing with said secondary housing,said hinge means being located behind the pinna at the back of the ear,said hinge means allowing the position of the main housing to beadjusted with respect to the secondary housing to permit the bottomsurface of the main housing and the side surface of the secondaryhousing to be drawn closer together in a clamping motion so that a tightfit around the ear is achieved thereby providing enhancedstability,wherein said friction hinge means includes an elastomerjournal member affixed to and extending from one of said housings andprojecting into the other housing, with the end of the journal memberprojecting into said other housing and being rotatably mounted to a pinof the other housing.
 2. A headset support as recited in claim 1 whereinthe other housing includes exterior wall opening which providerotational stops for the elastomer journal member.
 3. A headset supportas recited in claim 1 wherein the elastomer is 80 Durometer Kraton®.